Beware Christmas Shoppers: 3 Traps to Avoid When Scams Are Preparing | National

Black Friday is fast approaching and shoppers are getting ready. The National Retail Federation expects more than 183 million people to shop during the weekend from Thanksgiving to Cyber ​​Monday this year. But scammers are preparing black friday We are also looking for opportunities to steal your money or personal information.

Before you dive into holiday shopping, learn how to spot common scams and protect yourself.

1. Fake order and delivery notifications

Scammers often send phishing emails and text messages that impersonate delivery services or popular retailers like Amazon. These messages, which often claim there is a problem with order processing or delivery, may request payment information or contain malicious links.

A message might say something like this: “Part of your address is missing. Please click this link to complete the address,” says Raj Dasgupta, senior director of global consulting at fraud prevention firm BioCatch.

Dasgupta says if you receive a similar message when you’re not expecting a package, it should raise suspicion. But even if you’ve ordered something, don’t ignore the warning signs.

It’s unusual for delivery services to hold packages or demand payment because shipping costs are almost always billed to the sender, not the recipient, says Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at the nonprofit National Cybersecurity Alliance.

Avoid clicking links in texts or emails, and don’t share personal or payment information. To verify whether an order update is real, “go back to your original order on the site,” says Steinhauer. It says you can log in and check order status and reach customer service directly if there’s a problem.

2. Fake websites and products

When shopping online, carefully inspect sellers and products to avoid encountering fakes or nothing.

Steinhauer says sponsored ads on social media sites and search engines aren’t always adequately scrutinized, which means you may encounter fraud.

Dasgupta says scammers buy Google ads for popular search terms like “Black Friday deals” or desirable items like exercise equipment. When people click on these ads, he says, they may go to a “sophisticated-looking fake website” that mimics a well-known site like Macy’s, or to a fake company’s page. Shoppers never receive the item they were trying to purchase, or they receive a lower quality item.

Ignore “sponsored” links and read URLs closely. Steinhauer says there will usually be “something wrong,” such as a slight typo or normally absent hyphens in the website name. “It’s best to go to the legitimate website or app that you know is legitimate and shop there,” he says.

watchthird party seller scams on legitimate websites as well. Some companies, such as Walmart and Target, allow outside sellers to sell products through their platforms, and their reliability may vary. Reading seller reviews before purchasing can help you avoid bad actors.

Be wary of merchants asking for gift cards or peer-to-peer payments. If the only payment method accepted is a service like Venmo or Cash App, that’s an immediate red flag, Dasgupta says. And if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

3. Misleading QR codes

A QR code, or quick response code, is a barcode that leads to a website when scanned, usually with a smartphone camera. “Scanning” is when scammers create QR codes that link to fake websites or install malware on devices. These codes may appear on parking meters, in mysterious packages sent to your physical address, or in your email inbox.

For example, a scammer pretending to be your bank might email you a code and ask you to update your login information. Steinhauer says email services often filter out known malicious links or domains and send them to your spam folder, but since a QR code is an image, it can bypass those filters.

Do not scan codes you receive unexpectedly, and closely examine QR codes in public places for signs of tampering.

More ways to protect yourself from holiday shopping scams

Heed the advice above and follow these additional steps to protect against scammers.

• Freeze your credit. A. credit freeze It helps prevent anyone from opening a credit account in your name by restricting access to your credit report. You can get a free credit freeze at each of the three major credit bureaus.
• Watch out for unusual account activity. Check your free credit reports and credit card or bank statements for accounts you did not open or purchases you did not make.
• Shop in person. If you have the option, consider shopping at reliable brick-and-mortar stores. You will know that the company and its products are real.
• Use credit card. Paying by credit card is safer than debit card, gift card or peer-to-peer services. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection, including the ability to dispute charges, and the money doesn’t come directly from your bank account.
• Do not share your personal information. For online orders, it is normal to provide some information such as your address and credit card number. But legitimate purchases will never require sensitive information such as your date of birth or date of birth. Social Security number. If you receive a message asking for these details, passwords or account numbers, do not respond.
• Report any scams you encounter. Flag any scam ads you see on sites like Google and Instagram. If you have been scammed, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at: reportfraud.ftc.gov.

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